Adjustable length sphygmomanometer cuff or sleeve



W. E. HEITZ Jan. 8, 1952 ADJUSTABLE LENGTH SPHYGMOMANOMETER ,CUFF OR SLEEVE Filed June 23, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l flu... HHM. l

w. E. HElTz 2,582,123 ADJUSTABLE LENGTH SPHYGMOMANOMETER CUFF OR SLEEVE Jan. 8, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed` June 25, 1950' ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1952 ADJUSTABLE LENGTH SPHYGMOMANOM- ETER CUFF OR SLEEVE Walter E. Heitz, Scars'dale, N. Y., assignor to Heitz Instruments, Inc.,` New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York I Application June 23, 1950, Serial No. 169,821

l This invention relates to a sphygmomanometer cuff or band and, more particularly, to such a band or cuff which is more eicient and more sensitive than those presently available.

In the taking of blood pressure readings, it is the practice to encompass the limb of the patient with a cuif or sleeve which is inflatable to stop the flow of blood through the artery in which the blood pressure is to be measured. These cuffs may be in various forms, such as an inflatable elongated bag or a fabric sleeve'havingv an inflatable bag mounted on or in the sleeve.

To t limbs of widely differing girth, the sleeve must be of such construction that it lcan be adjustably wrapped around the limb. Additionally, it should be strong and rugged, engage agsubstantial length of the artery, and be of such material as to sensitively transmit pulsations of the artery.

The meeting of these requirements has resulted in the development of rather complicated and expensive prior art devices. To achieve adjustability, the sleeve has been provided with a fastening element disengageably associatable` with cooperating elements spaced along the sleeve length. Some of these fastening elements have been unduly complicated and likely to malfunction.

Rigid transverse reinforcements have been used to obtain the desired length of artery lcontact. These reinforcements increase the weight and bulk of the sleeve, as well as its cost,` and detract from the patients comfort. Additionally, the thickness of fabric necessary to mount.

the reinforcements decreases the sensitivity of response to pulsations in the artery.

The present invention is directed to a fabric sphygmomanometer sleevc which is characterized by simply adjustable fastening means, adequate non-rigid transverse reinforcement, sensitivity of response, and simplicity. 4

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following descrip-y Fig. 5 is an outside plan view of the cuff or sleeve. y

Fig. 6 is an elevation View of the sleeve in the wrapped around state.

10 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 2.05)

suitable side openings in pocket 3I.

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the sleeve or cui I0 comprises an elongated, substantially rectangular backing strip I I of suitable relatively heavy material such as a light canvas. One end of strip II is folded back on itself, as at I2, for substantially half the length of sleeve IU, the innerend of portion I2 being folded under to form a flexible transverse intermediate reinforcement and abutmentv I5.

The opposite end of strip II is likewise folded back on itself to form a transversely extending end reinforcement and abutment 20. Reinforcement folds I5 and 20 are secured to the main portion of strip II by suitable stitched seams I6, I6, 2| and 22, seams 22 also securing one end of a Sateen strip 25 to reinforcement 2li. A U-shape binding strip I 'I extends along both sides of strip II, and along the folded end remote from reinforcement 20, parallel seams i8, I8 securing binding strip I'I to strip II.

The margins of sateen strip 25 are folded under, for reinforcement, and stitched to reinforcement by seam 22, and' to the side edges of strip II and to binder I'I by stitched seams 23, 24 forming a continuation of seam 22. I'he free inner end of strip 25 has a stitched hem 26.

Aninflatable bag 30, of rubber or the like, lies fiat within the pocket 3l formed between strips I I and 25, having inflation and deflation tubes 32, 32, connected in the usual manner to the pump, pressure indicator and release valve (not shown). Tubes '32 extend outwardly through For a purpose to be described, a transverse reinforcing strip 50 is stitched to the inner surface of layer II substantially midway of tubes 32.

The length adjustment means of the invention sleeve or cuff includes a plurality of eyeletsv spaced longitudinally of the sleeve between reinforcement I5 and the folded over end of strip I'I. These eyelets are rivetted through both layers of fabric I I and I 2, thus being iirmly anchored in position. An eyelet 46 at the outer end of the sleeve serves to secure a hook 41 to this end. Hook 41 may be used to mount a pressure gauge'directly on the sleeve Ill.

j A snap fastener 50 (Fig. 5) is arranged to selectively engage any one of eyelets 45 to adjust the sleeve length to limbs of different girth. An eyelet 5I secures 'fastener 5i! to strip II and reinforcement 4Q, the fastener 5I)4 thus being firmly anchored in position. Fig. 6 somewhat schematically. indicates how sleeve Iii is wrapped around a limb, sateen lining 25 being innermost and fastener 5B being engaged in the proper eyelet 45 to provide a close fit. A leather loop 55 may be stitched to fabric Il, as at 55 and used to hold the gauge 6c when the sleeve is not in use, thus preventing the sleeve and its gauge from being relatively misplaced.

In operation, as bag 30 is inated, it is held longitudinally between the closed end of pocket 3l and reinforcing abutment I5. The thin sateen, or the like, lining overlying bag or sack 3U provides a sensitive response to arterial pulsations, and the several transverse, flexible reinforcements l5, 20, 49 assure an adequately lengthy contact with the artery.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles thereof, it should be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from such principles. l f

What is claimed is:

l. A sphygmomanometer sleeve comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of relatively heavy fabric folded inwardly upon itself for substantially one-half its length to form a reinforced double layer construction; and a strip of rela tively thin fabric secured along one end and both edges to the inner surface of such elongated strip throughout the major part of its non-reinforced length and forming therewith a pocket open at the other end of the thin fabric strip to receive an inflatable bag; said relatively thin fabric providing for sensitive response of the inflated bag to blood stream pulsations.

2. A .sphygmomanometer sleeve comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of relatively heavy fabric foldedinwardly upon itself for substantially onehalf of its length to form a reinforced double layer construction; a striprof rela.

tively thin fabric secured along one end and both edges to the inner surface of such elongated strip throughout the major part of its vnon-reinforced length and forming therewith a pocket open at the other end of the thin Vfabric strip to receive an inflatable bagr; and means on the inner surface of the elongated strip adjacent the mouth of the pocket land obstructing movement of the bag out of the pocket when the bag is inflated; said relatively thin fabric providing for sensitive response of the inflated bag to blood stream pulsations.

3. A sphygmomanometer sleeve comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of relatively heavy fabric folded inwardly yupon itself for-'substantially one-half its length to form a reinforced double layer construction; Aa strip of relatively thin fabric secured along one end land both edges to the `inner surface of ysuch elongated istrip throughout the major part of its non-reinforced length and forming therewith a pocket open 'at the other end of the thin fabric strip to receive an inflatable bag; said relatively thin fabric providing for sensitive response of the inflated bag to blood stream pulsations; a plurality Iof fastening means spaced longitudinally along lthe reinforced portion of said elongated strip; Aand a fastening element secured to said sleeve vand selectively cooperable with said fastening means, whereby said sleeve may be fastened in wrapped around relation on limbs of different girth.

4. sphygmomanometer sleeve comprising, in comblnation, an elongated strip of relatively heavy fabric folded inwardly upon itself for 'subd stantially one-half its length to form a reinforced double layer construction; a strip of relatively thin fabricl secured along one end and both edges to the inner surface of such elongated strip throughout the major part of its non-reinforced length and forming therewith a pocket open at the ohter end of the thin fabric strip to receive an inflatable bag; means on the inner surface .of the elongated strip adjacent the mouth of the pocket and obstructing movement of the bag out `of the pocket when the bag is inflated; said relatively thin fabric providing for sensitive response ofthe inflated bag to blood stream pulsations; a plurality of fastening means spaced longitudinally Valong the reinforced portion of said elongated strip; and a fastening element secured to said sleeve and selectively cooperable with said fastening means, whereby said sleeve may be fastened in wrapped around relation on limbs of different girth.

5. A sphygmomanometer sleeve comprising, in combination, an elongated .strip of relatively heavy Iabricfoldedinwardly upon itself for substantially one-,half its length to form a reinforced double layer construction, the inner end of the folded over portion being folded to form a first reinforcing hem extending transversely of the sleeve and the opposite end of the strip being folded to form a second reinforcing hem extending transversely of the sleeve; a strip of relatively thinfabrio secured to the inner surface of said `elongated strip between said hems and forming therewith a pocket to receive an inflatable bag; said first hem obstructing movement of the bag yout of the pocket when the bag is inflated; a plurality of fastening means spaced longitudinally along said elongated strip; and a fastening element secured to said sleeve and selectively co 3 operable with said fastening means, whereby said sleeve may be fastened in wrapped around relation on limbs of different girth.

6. Asphygmomanometer sleeve comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of relatively heavy fabric folded inwardly upon itself for sub-`- stantially one-half its length to form a reinforced double layer construction, the inner end of the folded over portion being folded to form a first reinforcing hem extending transversely of the sleeve andthe opposite end of the strip loe-- ing folded to form a second reinforcing hem ex-I tending transversely of the sleeve; a strip ofy relatively thin fabric secured to the inner surface of said elongated strip between said hems and forming therewith a pocket to receive an inflatable bag; said first Vhem obstructing movevment of the bag out of the pocket when the bag is inflated; a yreinforcing binder secured around two side edges and an end of said sleeve; a piu-Y rality of Vfastening means spaced longitudinally along said elongated-strip; and a fastening element secured to said sleeve and selectively cooperable With said fastening means, whereby said sleeve may be fastened in wrapped around relation on limbs of different girth.

7. A sphygmomanometer sleeve comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of relatively heavy fabric folded inwardly upon itself for substantially one-half its length to form a reinforced double layer construction, the inner end of the folded over portion being folded to form a first reinforcing hem extending transversely of .thesleeve and the opposite end of the stripbeing folded to form a second reinforcing hem extending Atransversely of thel sleeve; a strip of relatively thin fabric secured vto the inner surface of said elongated strip between said hems and forming therewith a pocket to receive an inflatable bag; said first hem obstructing movement of the bag out of the pocket when the bag is iniiated and reinforcing the sleeve transversely; a reinforcing binder secured around two side edges and an end of said sleeve; a fabric reinforcing strip extending transversely of said elongated strip intermediate said hems; a plurality of fastening means spaced longitudinally along the double layer reinforced portion of said elongated strip; and a fastening element secured to said elongated strip and to said transverse reinforcing strip and selectively cooperable with said fastening means, whereby said sleeve may be fastened in wrapped around relation on limbs of diferent girth.

8. A sphygmomanometer sleeve as claimed in claim 'Z in which said fastening means comprises eyelets and said fastening element comprises a snap fastener engageable in a selected eyelet.

9. A sphygmomanometer sleeve as claimed in claim '7 including a hook secured to the end of said sleeve remote from said second hem to protect a pressure gauge when not in use.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,199,408 La Liberte May 7, 1940 2,258,720 Saighman Oct. 14, 1941 2,347,197 La Liberte Apr. 25, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,535 Great Britain Oct. 5, 1911 of 1911 

